TIRANA: The President of the Republic of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia, Lace Louis Ettelson Joseph, who presented his credentials. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, and others attended the handover ceremony. The ambassador was accompanied by diplomats from the embassy.

Mallakastër NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE DP As we have been informed by the chairman of the DP section in the village of Greshicë, Mr. Sefedin Liçaj, since the Second National Conference of the DPA, a further 16 members have joined during January–February 1994, mainly young people with secondary education. “RD” CORRESPONDENT

“Zëri i Popullit” served the dictator Enver Hoxha for almost half a century, helping him conceal his monstrous crimes against the Albanian people: imprisonments, killings and anti-national genocide. This newspaper is now serving with the same zeal his successor’s forerunner, Fatos Nano, portraying him as an honest man and an initiator of democratic processes in Albania, and as someone unjustly accused of large-scale theft of state property, fraud and forgery. And it could hardly be otherwise. Fatos called Enver “father.” A popular saying goes: “Like father, like son.” Fatos, regardless of the cosmetic changes of the times, cannot in essence be different from his “father.” And since “ZP” defended and hymned Enver with such fanaticism, there is no reason for it to depart from its line and not defend Fatos too. Enver was the Party. Now Fatos is the Party. And “ZP” cannot deviate from the Party line! “ZP” continues along the same course, although times have changed: yesterday the darkness of dictatorship gave this newspaper free rein to print black as white and white as black, whereas today democracy lays issues open and clear as daylight and allows no criminal manipulation. As an organ openly at war with justice, totally mobilized to criminalize the SP, “ZP” can openly also be called “ZFN” or “LFFN” (“Free Fatos Nano”). Just read even one issue of this newspaper and the conclusion is clear. In fact, up to now the Albanian justice system has sent to prison and indicted several former officials and functionaries of the old communist nomenklatura. Indeed, along with former Prime Minister Nano, several former ministers, etc., have also been indicted, but “ZP” has completely forgotten them, because for it only Fatos is innocent. In a display of bias and partisan, class-based facts, “ZP” and those in power have abandoned the others and so far devoted around 720 articles to Comrade Fatos alone. The question is rightly asked: Is the Albanian justice system, which is prosecuting former ministers, former directors, former governors, etc., “making a mistake” only in the case of F.N.? If “ZFN” is silent about the others, why not about F.N.? Because for it and those who direct it, what matters is neither justice nor a trial, but only Fatos Nano’s release—illegally, at any cost (!)—regardless of justice, regardless of the trial, regardless of the facts. It is striking that the same position is not taken for the others. Today, “ZP” or “ZFN” has its own job to do; let it continue it to its partisan conclusion, and even carry on with its work consistently. Justice also has authority. V.N. has been accused, for example, of serious offences, large-scale abuses, etc. But they should let justice release him, not simply pronounce him free; otherwise it would not be justice, and it would have to justify the fact that all the accused should be tried further for collaboration with crime and, together with R.Aliene, for murders and torture aimed at destroying democracy in Albania, for plundering Albania and the Albanian people, for the destruction of strategic “knowledge bases” built up during the overthrow of the dictatorship, and for the latest acts of plunder.

Extremely tense and alarmed as the day of the verdict in the courtroom in the “Nano case” approaches, and aware that his conviction would mean not only the destruction of his cult and career but also a major moral and political defeat for the entire SP and its propaganda, the leaders—who have now proclaimed themselves the chairman’s guardian angels—are unable to restrain themselves or censor or correct certain spontaneous, hysterical statements that give the impression of a state of panic. It is clear that they are more worried about themselves than about Nano, because his conviction would also be the defeat of their desire for power; it would be the complete failure of their current propaganda campaign, at home and abroad, to defend Fatos Nano, for whose sake innocent people are being sacrificed. Even after the publication of the Prosecutor’s Office notice, supported by facts and figures that imply not only abuse of office but also embezzlement, Nano’s voluntary “defence lawyers,” or those acting out of necessity, do not abandon their demagoguery and strategy of cosmetic cover-ups or concealing one error with another. Not only to find GOD SAVE OUR WITS… —The Socialist Party knows everything; it just knows nothing about Nano’s corruption— I have known for a long time that the SP can govern Albania all by itself. I became convinced at the SP’s latest conference that it will also win the next elections. The SP also knows that the elections will be held in the autumn, before the leaves fall from the trees. The SP knows other things too, which there is no need to go through one by one here. We have long known how learned and wise the Socialist Party is, ever since it performed its famous trick: it turned the 10th Congress of the PPSH into its first congress. More or less a mythological creature: half human, half mermaid—that is, half communist, half socialist. The world learned of this paradox: speaking as communists, more precisely Enverists, in the evening, and waking up socialist and European in the morning. But it was not greatly surprised, having grown used to such paradoxes for half a century by reading “Zëri i Popullit,” especially the column “Zëri i Popullit”: Albania’s voice, the voice of truth. In any case, Albania and Europe have long recognized and accepted these merits of the SP and “ZP.” But with the departure from the scene of the SP’s idol, Fatos Nano, the SP seems to have become even more subdued. Only when Comrade Dokle and his associates offer their opinions… The people are right when they say: “When Namik speaks and the Party rises, all Albania stands up.” That is how Durrës stood up the day before yesterday when, as announced, it was to be visited by the distinguished leader of the Socialist Party, the beloved son of Kukës, former candidate for President of the Republic, Namik Dokle in person, accompanied by MPs from his parliamentary group. The meeting hall was packed with spectators. In the absence of speeches on the occasion and motions, as happens at such spectacles, the proceedings began with the spectacle “Long live the SP! Long live the SP with Comrade Fatos Nano in prison and Vice-Chairman Namik at its head,” and so on, after which Namik Dokle took the floor. He recited very beautifully, as if reading a memorized text: “The denunciations of anti-democratic and illegal conduct against Fatos Nano.” And he did not stop there; he knew nothing about Fatos’s abuse or embezzlement, but gave reasons… …There is no need to continue these words; I will quote what “ZP” emphasizes in bold letters. “We know how often Arben Qeleshi and Alush Dragoshi have been at the Presidency regarding the Nano case, especially recently.” That is what Namik Dokle declared. He continued: “We know how they have been insulted and how the heads of the justice and state institutions and others have left the Presidency and their meetings with the President. There you have it—the Nano case…” We do not think the President of the Republic himself would inform Comrade Namik in such detail that “the heads of the judiciary speak at the Presidency.” Such information is not justified even by the fact that Namik was once a contender for the presidential throne. Nor is there any reason for the heads of the justice institutions to inform Comrade Namik about how they entered and left the Presidency, or what they said or did not say about the Nano case. That leaves the most astonishing possibility: that the SP has informers in the Presidency and everywhere else, from whom it learns everything that happens there. Perhaps SHIK should have the final word on this hypothesis. But there is also a fourth conjecture: Namik himself has invented such hallucinations, conspiracy scenarios, complexes and machinations—a condition unavoidable for all those who lick up and take as their guide for action the works of the late “immortal leader,” Comrade Enver. That the chairman of the SP parliamentary group is in an abnormal state is also demonstrated by the continuation of his statement in Durrës: “We also know Sali’s, Meka’s and others’ opinions on the Nano case. We also know about Butka and the leading cadres and heads of institutions…” God save our wits. We have also had conversations with Meka; he could not uncover our thoughts, let alone have Namik learn them from on high. Even if the SP vice-chairman were a fortune-teller, he would not know so much, because he would have to pay to see the fortune-teller Eduard Selami or get a clue from that fellow Aleksander Meksi. So what are we left to do? Only express our regret and, with undisguised irony, criticize the justice institutions for not fighting hard enough to prevent such phenomena… In an ordinary, commonplace article about the Nano case in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit,” the opinion of Mr. Tomor Dosti is mocked and criticized. He apparently said that the Nano case “is in the hands of justice” and that only it can get Fatos Nano out of prison. There is no need to debate that Mr. Tomor Dosti spoke as one should speak within the framework of a state governed by law, where the courts and prosecutors decide on arrests, releases and prison sentences. But “ZP” apparently does not like the language of the law. It is accustomed to resolving problems on orders from above, through street petitions and rallies, and through recommendations from abroad. One fact, however, is striking. On the front page of “ZP,” on the very same date, an interview with Namik Dokle, vice-chairman of the SP, is published, and it contradicts the newspaper’s article on another page. Comrade Namik says what Tomor Dosti said, the very thing for which “ZP” takes issue with him: “Now it is up to the court to decide. I do not prejudge the court’s decision. It may make a fair decision; it may be unfair. It is not for me to speak…” I hope “ZP” will not be too quick to take issue with the vice-chairman of its own party.

Invited by the DPA, as part of the series of visits she is making to Albania, yesterday afternoon Monika Shtraus, daughter of the distinguished Bavarian and German national figure, together with her siblings Maks, Franc and Birgid Shtraus, took part in the new naming given by the Tirana Municipality to the square at the intersection of “Hoxha Tasim” and “Qemal Stafa” streets, previously known to the people as “xhankulli.” Dozens of Tirana residents had come to take part in this beautiful ceremony. Also present were the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori; Deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Kopliku; the Secretary-General of the DPA, Mr. Tritan Shehu; the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi; the German ambassador to Albania, V valer; and many other state dignitaries, MPs, etc. Greeting those present on behalf of the Tirana Municipality, Mayor Sali Kelmendi said: “Naming this beautiful Tirana space after the distinguished figure of the Bavarian and German people, Franc Jozef Shtraus, establishes a new bridge of friendship between the Albanian and German peoples.” The plaque bearing the inscription “Franc Jozef Shtraus Square” was unveiled by Mr. Pjeter Arbnori. Monika Shtraus, the daughter, greeted those present on behalf of the family, as well as in her capacity as Secretary of State for Culture of the Land of Bavaria. Children from Tirana’s eight-year schools recited poems and sang songs in German. At the end, the Mayor of Tirana hosted a cocktail reception for those present. DYLJEMAN KARAJ

TIRANA: The trial in the criminal case against the defendant Marsel Skendo will take place on 1 March 1994, according to an internal source at the Tirana District Court. The indictment accuses the defendant Skendo of committing the criminal offence of forging official documents. The panel hearing this criminal case will be chaired by the president of this court, Agim Bendo.

DKT DPA (??) Drawn portrait and the writing “PDSH”

The optimistic side of the reform —The resumption of work and revival of the economy are reflected in the value of exports— —An expanded market for Albanian products— —Progress in economic export-import indicators— The optimistic side of the reform PROGRESS IN EXPORT-IMPORT INDICATORS —The resumption of work and revival of the economy are reflected in the value of exports— —An expanded market for Albanian products— —Progress in economic export-import indicators— This is shown by data released by the Institute of Statistics. Thus, the total volume of exports in 1993 amounted to 9.96905 million lekë. Compared with the value of exports in 1992, which was around 57 million lekë, the progress is clear. By sector, exports were realized by the state sector to the amount of 47105 million lekë, or 48.2%, and by the private sector to the amount of 52592 billion lekë, or 51.8%. This indicator also allows us to judge the profile the economy is acquiring: it is leaning increasingly toward private enterprises and private ownership. As for the increase by sector, the private sector contributed 3.3 billion lekë to this growth and the state sector 0.7 billion lekë, reflecting the sustained effectiveness of the latter sector. Nevertheless, the optimistic side of the reform emerges when it is observed through the “conjuncture” (statistical evidence) that the 0.7-billion-lekë increase in exports from the state sector reflects the resumption of work and revival of the Albanian economy. This year the mining industry and electric power managed to lead industry as a whole. Exports amounted to 841.5535 lekë and 2.903.463 lekë; chromium was worth 58.224 thousand lekë and copper 3240.9 thousand lekë—these are the export values of the mining industry. The effectiveness of exports was also demonstrated by electric power, of which 492.169 lekë was allocated for this purpose. Abandoning the principle of relying on one’s own resources, the necessity of cooperation with the world and, in order to achieve it, openness to it, and the exploitation of the Eastern communist bloc—all these factors have expanded the market for Albanian products. Albania lost its traditional market when it was excluded by the countries of Eastern Europe. Trade based on clearing, which had taken place between Albania and the former communist countries, came to an end. Today the market for Albanian products around the world is more extensive, reflecting the effects of the factors mentioned above. Albanian goods have been sold in the countries of the European Community: the value of exports to these countries is 9.187.951 thousand lekë. Albanian goods worth 52.73 million lekë have been sold in the USA. Meanwhile, the Eastern European market continues to be the largest recipient of Albanian exports. This year that market received exports worth 1.631.599 thousand lekë. Not only this indicator but also imports have experienced a significant increase. This is attributable to the Albanian market’s hunger for various products, the non-functioning of domestic production lines, whose needs were met through imports, and the expansion of trading activities by Albanian traders and businesses. Imports increased by … lekë; their value, which in 1992 was 22 billion lekë, reached a total import value of 41 billion lekë in 1993. In this indicator too, the private sector grew considerably, thereby expressing the stage of development of trading activities. SHPETIM LUKU